#waaju

Brainchild of Waaju bandleader Ben Brown, this unique collaborative record features Brown’s expansive arrangements of traditional Gnawa songs, bringing Bekkas’ incredible musical force into the soundscape of potent grooves and trippy delays that Waaju has become known for. Bekkas, who’s previous collaborators include Pharoah Sanders, Archie Shepp and Peter Brotzmann, is considered one of the foremost figures in Moroccan Gnawa music today and has been key in the music’s revival over the last decade. He’s also never before collaborated with a UK band which, at the time of recording, was his first visit to the UK. On ‘Alouane’, Bekkas is welcomed effortlessly into Waaju’s simmering chemistry, which can be heard most vividly on their previous studio albums ‘Grown’ in 2020 and a self-titled debut in 2018. Waaju’s members have remained deeply connected throughout the ensemble’s eight year history amidst working in the bands of Mulatu Astatke, Alfa Mist, Loyle Carner, Jordan Rakei, José James, Ashley Henry, Nubiyan Twist and others, and their music has commanded global listenership and has been championed by the likes of Gilles Peterson, Jazz FM, Jungle & Jordan Rakei. ‘Alouane’ translates as ‘Colours’ in Arabic and speaks of the seven colours which are integral to Gnawa music. Each colour represents and invokes a different spirit and most Gnawa songs are within one of these seven colours. It is said that each person has a connection with one of these colours, whether they are aware of it or not which, at times, can result in intense, involuntary bodily reactions upon hearing a certain Gnawa song. Recorded largely at a packed Church of Sound in London, the room’s energy surges to peaks of extreme uplift with uncontrolled audience hollers like on “Bania”, balanced with others of delicate introspection like on “Lando”. ‘Alouane’ presents a record light on its feet with harmonic nuance and dynamic sensibility, and acts as a powerful contribution to the Gnawa fusion genre. 

Pulsing Afro-Latin roots and UK jazz combine on Grown, the latest album by London-based quintet Waaju, released via Olindo Records. Fusing dexterous hand-percussion, hypnotic guitar riffs and soaring melodies, Waaju connect a wide range of traditional musics percolating at different corners of the global soundscape yet with a distinctly of-the-moment and British jazz flavour. Led by drummer and percussionist Ben Brown (Alfa Mist, Dizraeli, Ashley Henry), and comprising members across the UK’s extensive music scene including, percussionist Ernesto Marichales (Jordan Rakei, Sigala), guitarist Tal Janes (Nubiyan Twist, Bahla), Sam Rapley (Fabled, Maria Chiara Argiro) and Joe Downard (China Moses, Judi Jackson), Waaju’s unique and divergent sound connects the dots between the likes of Beth Carvalho, Oscar D’Leon, Alain Peters and Los Muñequitos de Matanzas. Waaju formed as a means of exploring music’s hidden connections, from trance-inducing Moroccan gnawa to Caribbean carnival music, and embracing them to reflect the different layers of London’s own musical culture. It was the band’s love for Mali’s folk music – and Ali Farka Touré’s stylistic prowess in particular – that first set the project in motion. London’s Jazz Cafe invited Waaju to reinterpret classic tracks from Farka Touré’s catalogue to sold-out audiences in 2018 and 2019. According to Brown: “Ali’s one of the best. He has such a unique sound. His playing is so gnarly. His spirit and attitude are things I always think of when making music.” Waaju (meaning ‘to urge, inspire or influence to take action’ in Bambara) blend Latin polyrhythms, psychedelic Malian blues licks and dancefloor-oriented UK jazz arrangements. Following the group’s 2018 self-titled debut LP, Grown represents Waaju at their most distinctive and refined. Ben Brown - drums, percussion Sam Rapley - saxophone, shaker (track 4) Tal Janes - guitar Ernesto Marichales - congas, percussion Joe Downard - bass

2018 | Waaju Olindo #waaju #olindo #olindorecords @waajuofficial @olindorecords Edition of 500 mastered and cut at The Carvery in London Bandcamp: „… London based afro-latin jazz quintet Waaju. A project that never stands still, Waaju’s members have been busy as part of other ensembles (Caravela, Bahla, Jordan Rakei, and Ashley Henry to name a few), which means they cherish each time they get to make music together.“ https://www.instagram.com/p/CZH8W6ZMQNI/?utm_medium=tumblr

2018 | Waaju - Waaju Olindo Edition of 500 #waaju #olindo @waajuofficial @olindorecords Fusion, African, Contemporary Jazz https://www.instagram.com/p/CNF0iDKsobg/?igshid=c822i5we0k35

2018 | Waaju - Waaju Olindo Style: Fusion : African : Contemporary Jazz #waaju #olindo @waajuofficial @olindorecords https://www.instagram.com/p/CDT1xSUp5Qs/?igshid=ezyjl8w7bddo

wow!

2020 | Waaju - Grown Olindo New Entry #waaju #waajumusic #olindo #olindorecords @waajuofficial @olindorecords https://www.instagram.com/p/CC8sdlCpc0p/?igshid=1nxw81exkg9ll

Waaju - Wassoulou